Labor & Employment

Labor and Employment

Schools Legal Service’s Labor and Employment Practice Group attorneys counsel school administrators in handling complicated employee discipline matters, provide representation and advice in classified and certificated disciplinary proceedings and related writ actions and appeals, non-reelection of probationary employees and layoffs, unfair practice charges and grievances, employee leaves, hiring and evaluation issues, as well as matters before administrative bodies such as the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Office of Civil Rights, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board.

We publish what is undoubtedly the most comprehensive manual available on employee leaves for school personnel, as well as a variety of other materials on topics such as evaluation and discipline of employees, layoff and March 15 issues.

Collective Bargaining

The enactment of the Education Employment Relations Act (Rodda Act) in 1976 required school districts to collectively bargain with employee groups and conduct representation elections. Schools Legal Service has been there from the beginning to assist education agencies in the process, negotiating many of the first bargaining agreements in the State. We advise districts in developing and “sunshining” initial proposals, negotiating with employee units, guiding districts where necessary in the mediation and fact finding processes, and a host of related issues, including employee grievances and unfair labor practice charges.